Raiders Rout Dukes In Baseball Opener

HAMPTON — Bryan Halsey's three-run homer capped a seven-run explosion in the third inning to trigger Warwick's 10-2 victory over host Gloucester in Tuesday's baseball season opener for both teams.

Winning pitcher Noah Whitehead went the distance for the Raiders, who made the most of just six hits.

With Warwick leading 1-0 entering the third inning, Brian Millard and Darren Price each hit two-run singles after losing pitcher Doug Purcell walked two batters. Halsey's smash gave the Raiders an 8-0 advantage.

*Brant Walden went 3-for-5 with two doubles and three RBI as Phoebus cruised to a season-opening 15-2 win over visiting Norfolk Collegiate.

The Phantoms scored in every inning and used three pitchers to shut down the Oaks. Starter Jason Gilmer earned the win, though reliever Wayne Gomes held Norfolk Collegiate scoreless until Chris Moore mopped up in the seventh.

*Rick Parnell raced home on Mark Nimmo's squeeze bunt in the 10th inning to give Menchville a 3-2 victory over Western Branch in Portsmouth.

Parnell opened the 10th inning with a single and advanced to third on a single by Yol Hong.

*Southampton Academy scored twice in the first inning en route to a 4-2 victory over Tidewater Academy.

SOFTBALL

HAMPTON - A six-run first-inning outburst by Phoebus propelled the Phantoms to a 14-10 win over visiting Bryant High of Queens, N.Y. in the first game of a doubleheader, but Bryant came back to win the nightcap 11-7.

Winning pitcher Jennifer Diggs, Tonya Pearce, Tracy Green and Rhonda Crum all stroked two hits for Phoebus in the first game. The Phantoms (1-1) bolted to a 14-2 lead after four innings, then weathered a six-run rally by the Owls (1-3) in the seventh.

Bryant recorded 12 hits off pitcher Jennifer Albright in the second game.

FORT EUSTIS - Denbigh scored the first four goals of the game and held on to beat York 4-2 in the semifinals of the Fort Eustis Invitational.

The Patriots, who have one loss in the double elimination tournament, will meet undefeated Menchville in the final round Saturday at noon. If Denbigh wins that game, the squads would play a second game immediately afterwards for the title.

Michael Martinez, Brad Banks and Tom Ekman scored in the first half as Denbigh took a commanding 3-0 halftime lead. In the second half, Robert Kudlaty added another goal for the Patriots before Scott Hennessy and Carlos Blandon connected for the Falcons.